NOAA and National Safe Boating Council promote National Safe Boating Week
Colin recently brought to our attention an article that appeared in the Southampton Times last week. It was the announcement of the retirement of long time Bay Constable Tad Sadleir. In chronicling his career there was one chilling detail that stood out. In his 36 years on the job as a Southampton Town Bay Constable has seen a lot of things. “Ted Sadleir has pulled the bodies of 75 drowned people from the waters of the East End over the last four decades. None of them was wearing a life preserver (personal floatation PFD) , the veteran bay constable noted.”
Overall, almost 75% of all fatal boating accident victims drown and of those who drowned, 88% of the victims were not wearing a life jacket.
NY State Law requires life jackets be worn between November 1 and May 1 for boats less than 21 feet….that includes kayaks and canoes.
NOTE: Paddlers are required to wear PFD’s (Personal Flotation Devices) at all on-the-water NACK events.
Lots of boating safety information and statistics can be found at: